Blackhall enjoy a sizeable lead at the top of the table, but they only just edged Billingham Synthonia following a nail-biting finish.

The Colliers tumbled to the meagre total of 87 all out which took almost 48 overs to compile but in reply, Synners managed just 81 from 30.1 overs.

Fortunes fluctuated and Farook Iqbal proved the match-winner as he captured six wickets for a mere 28 runs in an inspired spell of 15.1 overs, five of them maidens.

Kevin Martin (5-33) and Martin Cull (5-45) bowled unchanged in the Billingham attack sharing the 47.4 overs but their superb efforts failed to achieve victory.

Normanby Hall had 63 runs in hand of Bedale and are joint second with Wolviston. Mahmood (35) and Ramzan (42) led the Hall to 173 all out despite Mark Shillito conceding only 40 runs for five wickets.

Ramzan was the most successful of the seven-man Hall attack, returning five for 12 runs as Bedale were sent back for 110.

Wolviston suffered their first defeat in eight games when Guisborough won by five wickets.

The visitors' target was 158 and scores in the 40s by Andrew Parsons and Richard Hornbrook saw Guisborough home despite Jimmy Jones returning 4-42 - the same analysis that Carroll achieved in the Guisborough attack.

Stokesley had plenty to spare at home to Barnard Castle after bowling out their opponents for fewer than 100 runs in 40 overs.

Ian West bowled a good end in taking four for 12 in eight overs and an unbeaten 53 from David Weighell, with seven boundaries, cemented a seven-wicket win.

Mattie Brown took five for 26 as Darlington RA were all out for 81 at Acklam Park. Stringer (26 not out) and Bruton (33 not out) then put together an unbroken partnership for the fourth wicket.

Malcolm Muldowney (62) and his opening partner Ian MacDonald (56) laid the foundations for Thornaby's five-wicket success at Darlington who managed only 146 as Rashid captured six of the wickets at an economical 32 runs.

Richard Clayton batted throughout the Seaton Carew innings, ending undefeated on 109 and Peart added 70 not out to the unbroken third-wicket stand.

Yarm's target was 241 and when time was called they were 211-8 following runs down the order from several batsmen including a top-scoring half century from Smith.